Propeller



June 15 1926.

F. DURE PROPLLER Filed Sept. 25, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORN EY Jur-1e 15 1926. f F. DURE PROFELLER Filed sept. 2S, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet F. DURE June 15 1926.

PROPELLER Filed Sept. l25, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTO APaterntedl .ll-une l5,

UNITED stares FRANK EURE., OF MOOSEJAW, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA.

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Application filed September The object of this invention is to provide a propeller adapted to be mounted on the forward end and also on the rear end of a shaft extending longitudinally of the hull of a vessel, the propellers being Vfunnel- .shape, the flared ends being toward the stern, and said propellers being collapsible on the forward stroke and rigid on the opposite stroke of the longitudinally movable sha-ft.

v A further object is to provide a particular form of propeller comprising hingedly mounted plates diverging with reference to each other and adapted to operate automatically incident to the reciprocating movement of the shaft.

A still further object is to provide driiV ing means for the vessel, comprising an engine and suitable gearing for driving par-` allel longitudinal shafts adapted to reclp rocate longitudinally and mounting on opposite ends thereof propellers of the type herein disclosed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of elements described, illustrated and claimed, it being understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

Figure l shows the hull of a vessel in top plan, and the four propellers which it is intended to employ, the propellers being mounted on longitudinal shafts appearing in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a View in side elevation showing the propellers in full line position, and also in dotted line position, the dotted lines representing the forward stroke. p

Figure 3 is a View in side elevation showing conventionally the connections bet-Ween the engine and the transverse shaft appearing in dotted lines in Figure 1.

Figure 1: is an end elevation of one of the propellers.

Figure 5 is also an end elevation, the blades of the propeller being in collapsed position.

Figure 6 is a detail in section, the section being on line 66 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is also a detail in section, the section being on line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a further detail in sect-ion, showing the diverging arms or bars of the 25.49725.Y sei-m1 No. 52,673.

funnel-shaped propellers and the manner 0f their connection with a centrally mounted element.

{Figure 9 isa detail inside elevation, showing rack and pinion mechanism for iinpart ing longitudinal movement to the long shafts of Figure 1.

InFigure l the hull of a vessel is designated 10, and mounted therein, within bearings such as 11 are longitudinal shafts 12 and 13, these shafts extending the full length ofthe main portion of the hull and being in parallel relation. The shafts are deflected outwardly, or diverge, forwardly ofthe bearings 11, toward the bow, and from point 14 the shafts are further deflected and converge, in order to mount the propellers in the relation illustrated in top plan in Figure 1.

These shafts 12 and 13 have connected therewith a rectangular link or the like designated 15v and shown especially in Figure 9, this link or frame including a rack 16 on the inner portion of the lower side, and the racks meshing with pinions 17 mounted on opposite ends Vof transverse shaft 18 of Figure 1. This shaft 18 includes a crank 19, and connected therewith is a reciprocating element or pitnian 2O through which power is applied to shaft 18 for the purpose of oscillating or rocking this shaft, and thereby imparting reciprocating movement to shafts 12 and 13. An engine 22 is shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, and connections of suitable type may be made between the plunger of this engine and element 2O just referred to.

The funnel-shaped propellers are mounted on longitudinal shafts, and those at the stern have their main axes parallel while those at the bow are mounted on axes which converge with reference to each other, owing to the converging portions of the longitudinal shafts. The propellerseach include radial plates or vthe like designated mounted in hub member 26, these plateshaving connection with an annular member 27 shown. especially in Figure G, and including an edge portion 28. In this annular member 27 I mount rods or arms 30 having their end portions 31 at right angles with the main portions thereof, and having direct connection with member 27. The opposite ends of arms 8O extend to the hub at the point 32. This construction provides a framework in which the collapsible plates 33 are mounted, these plates being assembled in pairs and being` curved as illustrated in Figure 5, s that when the plates are expanded the propeller will assume true funnel form, the plates of adjacent pairs meeting along the radial lines 35 of Figure A. The hinge connections for the plates may be of the type shown in Figure l and also shown in Figure S, rolled portions such as 37 being provided on each plate and these rolled portions on adjacent plates alternating in a Well known form of hinge connection. On the forward movement of the longitudinal shaft, the plates or blades collapse and there is practically no resistance oered during this movement of the propellers. On the reverse movement, the blades expand, and the resistance offered by the water results in direct thrust and the forward -movement of the vessel, the power applied to the shafts being utilized in a maximum degree.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

l. In propelling` mechanism for vessels, a shaft extending longitudinally of the hull of a vessel, means for imparting longitudinal movement to the shaft, propellers mounted on opposite ends of the shaft, a second longitudinal shaft, and propellers carried by the opposite ends thereof, and means for reciprocating the second shaft with that first named, those portions of the forward ends of the shafts mounting the propellers being in converging relation.

2. In propelling mechanism for vessels, a plurality of propeller shafts extending longitudinally of the hull of a vessel, means for imparting longitudinal movement to the shafts, and cone-shaped collapsible propellers mounted on opposite ends of the shafts, the main axes of the propellers at the bow converging in a forward direction.

3. A funnel-shaped propeller, comprising a plurality of diverging elements and blades pivoted to said elements and arranged in pairs, the plates of each pair being movable toward each other and toward the main axis of the propeller, to collapsed position and an annular element surrounding the outer ends of the diverging elements and limiting the movement of the blades.

4. A propeller, comprising an annular element, converging arms extending from said element, and blades pivotally connected with each arm and movable inwardly with reference thereto and toward each other, under external fluid pressure, blades connected with each arm being curved in re verse directions, and an annular element surrounding the diverging ends of the arms and limiting the movement of the blades.

In testimony whereof I afliXmy signature.

FRANK DURE. 

